Nutraceutical preparations in childhood migraine prophylaxis: effects on headache outcomes including disability and behaviour

Abstract

Migraine is common in children, but few specific drugs are available. We performed an open-label comparison of effects of two nutraceutical preparations (ginkgolide B vs. Griffonia simplicifolia extract) on outcomes in 374 school-age children (mean 10.7 years) with migraine without aura. Half of them received ginkgolide B; and half, Griffonia simplicifolia. Both preparations were given orally twice a day for 6 months. Patients kept a headache diary. Outcomes at the beginning and end of treatment were compared. Both preparations reduced all outcome measures after 6 months of treatment. However, reductions in headache frequency, duration and intensity, PedMIDAS score and behavioural reactions to headache were significantly greater in the ginkgolide B group. Both nutraceutical treatments appear promising in paediatric migraine without aura, particularly because of their lack of side effects. However, the ginkgolide B preparation was significantly more effective in the medium-term (6 months).

Decreased mean platelet volume in panic disorder

“…5-HT is also important in the pathophysiology of pain in migraine,7,8 while the polymorphism of the 5-HT transporter gene appears to be associated with increased risk of migraine 9. Borgdorrf and Tangelder reviewed the evidence that release of platelet 5-HT and platelet activation, by shear stress, may be important in migraine 10.…”

11th European Headache Federation Congress jointly with 31st Congress of the Italian Society for the Study of Headaches

“…Methods Adults with EM (n=955) were randomised 1:1:1 to subcutaneous monthly placebo or erenumab 70 mg or 140 mg for 24 weeks. The primary endpoint was change from baseline in mean monthly migraine days (MMDs) over weeks [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24]. Secondary endpoints were ≥50% reduction in MMDs; change in acute migraine-specific medication days; change in Physical Impairment (PI) and Impact on Everyday Activities (EA) (as measured by the Migraine Physical Function Impact Diary [MPFID]).…”

“…Long term effects better than placebo in another study [15] -Tanacetum parthenium: no study available -Ginkgo biloba combined to Coenzyme Q10/Vitamin B2/ Magnesium: reduction of the M frequency and the use of symptomatic medication in a open-label study [16]; reduction of the M frequency in another open-label study [17]; reductions of M frequency, duration, intensity, PedMIDAS score, behavioural reactions to M were significantly greater in the Ginkgolide group than in the group received L-tryptophan/5-hydroxytryptophan (from Griffonia simplicifolia)/vitamin PP and B6 [18].…”

“…The MFIQ was completed at baseline and every 4 weeks for 24 weeks. The MFIQ scores were evaluated as change from baseline to the last three months of the double-blind treatment phase (defined as the average of scores in Months 4-6 [Weeks [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] Background Migraine Physical Function Impact Diary (MPFID) is a 13-item patientreported outcome (PRO) measure that assesses the impact of migraine on Everyday Activities (EA) and Physical Impairment (PI) domains. We report the effect of erenumab, a preventive treatment for episodic migraine (EM) in adults, on monthly days with impairment as measured by the MPFID.…”

Generation of superoxide anion radicals and platelet glutathione peroxidase activity in patients with schizophrenia

“…PAF is a phospholipid mediator of inflammation with a wide range of biological activities, including alteration of the barrier function of endothelium. It is a strong platelet activator involved in migraine 15,16. Free radical-mediated pathological reactions (oxidative modification of biomolecules) may play a role in schizophrenia.…”